Josh Valentine - Coach

“The adventure begins when the plan ends.” Or at least, that’s the basic philosophy that has driven Josh to lead a decidedly outside-the-box existence dedicated to living and breathing every day as wildly as possible. It came as no surprise then, that he meshed almost immediately with the live, eat, and move-outside-the box philosophies of Wildfitness. Sporting a wilderness street credit that goes as far back as having had his diaper changed at the bottom of a canoe on the Delaware River, Josh has made a varied living as everything from a guide and instructor in mountaineering, climbing, and wilderness survival, to writing, to safety and photography work in adventure film and TV. As an adventure athlete, his activities include mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, whitewater kayaking, and extreme trail running.

At the core of all of this, however, was an instinct and passion for movement that combined naturally with a keen awareness for the human species’ inherent need for a connection with their natural surroundings. “I believe profoundly that identifying the source and solution to any problem begins by finding its original purpose or precedence in nature,” Josh maintains. “Once I learned about the Wildfitness approach, I was blown away by how much more I understood about so many things that I already thought or did, as well as how much more there was to learn and expand upon. I was hooked instantly.”

His passions include whitewater kayaking, backpacking, ice and rock climbing, and peak bagging. He also doubles as a freelance writer and advocate for ALS patient support and care. Josh has navigated a canoe from the highest source of the Hudson River to the Statue of Liberty, and is 19 peaks shy of having climbed the 115 highest mountains in the Northeastern United States. He holds certifications as a Wilderness First Responder, ACA Recognized Whitewater Raft Guide, in Swift water Rescue, and Avalanche Level 1.